Meet the newest baby animals at the Nashville Zoo

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – While the Nashville Zoo has been closed to the public since March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new additions have been born since then. We spoke to Jim Bartoo, Marketing, and Public Relations Director at the Nashville Zoo, about the new zoo babies.

Binturong

Lucy, one of the Nashville Zoo's Palawan binturongs, gave birth to a male kit (common name for a baby binturong) on March 13, 2020. At birth, the kit weighed 279 grams (about 10 ounces).

"We had a baby binturong and it was up at the hospital. And we had a streaming camera over his nursery so you could tune into him. He's leaving soon, in the next couple of days to go to another zoo."

Porcupines

Two Cape Porcupines, or porcupettes (the common name for baby porcupines), were born on February 24 and weighed about one pound each.

"They are super cute watching them play around in their exhibit and learn those areas."

The two porcupettes will stay with their mother (Mkali) and father (Jake) until the animal care team can accurately determine sex. At that point, they will either relocate to meet new mates or become animal ambassadors for their species.

Related: At the Nashville Zoo, the animals miss you as much as you miss them

Anteater

A 17-year old Giant Anteater named Praim, delivered a male pup on February 28.

"We had a baby anteater born who's still kind of strapped to the mother's back. This animal will stay there for up to a year on the mother's back."

For those of you who love the kangaroo exhibit, you may get a treat when the zoo opens back up.

"And in the very near future you are going to be able to see joeys, baby kangaroos. We haven't shown you any video of it yet, they are still in the pouch and growing but they're getting very close to starting to reveal themselves. So maybe by the time we open, people will be able to come out and see joeys!"

Copyright 2020 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Share this story More Local News Stories Second phase of Vanderbilt COVID-19 antibody research begins tomorrow by CB Cotton / Apr 21, 2020 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Research to help patients recover from COVID-19 heads into its second phase tomorrow at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The study is called "Pass It On" which stands for, PASSive Immunity Trial Of Nashville. Read the Full Article Mayor Cooper in partnership to enhance COVID-19 community outreach for immigrants and refugees by Brent Remadna / Apr 21, 2020 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Nashville has had more than 1900 people test positive for COVID-19 with the latest data showing a shift in where the most positive cases are showing up.​​ "Cases in Nashville have shifted geographically and most of our new cases are now clustered in the southeastern part of the county," said a spokesperson for the city at the Mayor's daily press conference, "Communities that make up this population are numerous and diverse. Our fellow Nashvillians that make up these communities also make up a large number of essential service jobs."​​ Read the Full Article Nashville Metro Council votes on Waffle House shooting lawsuit by Nikki McGee / Apr 21, 2020 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Council voted Tuesday night 44-to-0 in favor of a $35,000 lawsuit settlement involving the next of kin of a Waffle House shooting victim.   "I want to thank this body for understanding that it was never about the money, but ensuring that these lives will forever have meaning, and again, this won't happen again to any other family," District 28 Councilwoman Tanaka Vercher said. Read the Full Article Top Stories 10-year-old child throat slashed after video game argument in Lewis County More than 1,300 inmates test positive for coronavirus in Ohio For meat plant workers, virus makes a hard job perilous 'Cartels are scrambling': Virus snarls global drug trade Storms rake Deep South, 1 week after deadly tornado outbreak Chief: Man ambushed 3 Texas officers in his home, killing 1 More Stories Nashville-based party wagon business holds demonstration on Broadway Lacking US coordination, states team up on when to reopen Judge: Tennessee can't prevent abortions during coronavirus NASA, SpaceX pick May 27 to resume astronaut launches in US Read more stories Current 59° Clear Tonight 42° Clear Precip: 0% Tomorrow 72° Considerable cloudiness Precip: 20% Don't Miss Second phase of Vanderbilt COVID-19 antibody research begins tomorrow Mayor Cooper in partnership to enhance COVID-19 community outreach for immigrants and refugees Nashville Metro Council votes on Waffle House shooting lawsuit Woman coughs in officer's face after police bust party during 'stay-at-home' order Presidential debate planning proceeds despite virus worries 'COVID toes': Puzzling condition a possible coronavirus symptom in young people Video Food trucks to start serving truckers at California's rest stops Video Trending Stories Davidson County 'heatmap' shows concentration of confirmed coronavirus cases across Nashville Video 'Data and science' will determine if Davidson County businesses reopen in early May Video Hundreds laid off at Nashville bars, restaurants operated by Strategic Hospitality Video Look up! Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight into Wednesday morning Video Nashville Metro Council votes on Waffle House shooting lawsuit

Get a Behind the Scenes Tour of the New Andean Bear Exhibition at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere